1913: The Eve of War: A Journey into the Heart of the World's Last Peacetime Year

In 1913, the world stood on the brink of catastrophe. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, sparked a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. In his book 1913: The Eve of War, historian Paul Ham takes us back to that fateful year, and provides a vivid account of the events that led to the outbreak of the war.

Ham's book is a masterful work of scholarship. He draws on a wealth of sources, including diaries, letters, newspapers, and government documents, to paint a vivid picture of a world on the brink of catastrophe. He introduces us to a cast of characters, from world leaders to ordinary people, who played a role in shaping the course of events. We meet Franz Ferdinand, the charming and charismatic heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne; Gavrilo Princip, the young Bosnian nationalist who assassinated him; and Kaiser Wilhelm II, the bellicose German emperor who played a key role in escalating the crisis. We also meet ordinary people, such as Sophie Chotek, Franz Ferdinand's morganatic wife, and Edith Cavell, a British nurse who was executed by the Germans during the war.

1913: The Eve of War

by Paul Ham

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1036 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	88 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Ham's book is not simply a dry recitation of facts. He brings the events of 1913 to life with his vivid prose and his keen eye for detail. He describes the sights, sounds, and smells of Sarajevo on the day of the assassination, and he takes us inside the meeting rooms where diplomats and generals made the fateful decisions that led to war. He also provides a rich context for the events of 1913, exploring the complex political, social, and economic forces that shaped the world in the years leading up to the war.

1913: The Eve of War is a must-read for anyone interested in World War I or in the history of Europe in the early 20th century. It is a gripping and thought-provoking book that provides a fresh perspective on one of the most important events in human history.

About the Author

Paul Ham is a British historian and journalist. He is the author of numerous books on World War I, including The Great War: A Military History, Kitchener's Army: The Men Who Won the Great War, and Passchendaele: The Calvary of Sir Douglas Haig. Ham has also written extensively about the history of espionage and intelligence, and he is the author of MI5: The Inside Story of Britain's Security Service and The Secret History of MI6.

Further Reading

* 1913: The Eve of War by Paul Ham * The Great War: Primary Resources * World War One: Resources for Students

1913: The Eve of War

by Paul Ham

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1036 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	88 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE